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Social Traders has announced the finalists of the inaugural Social Enterprise Awards.

Chair of the judging panel, Simon Gillies said the panel was extremely impressed with the vitality of the social enterprise sector in Australia.

"The high calibre of applications for the inaugural Awards provides further evidence of the broad range of innovative and sustainable Australian Social Enterprises making significant contributions to diverse local, national and international communities.

"In recognising these individuals and organisations at the inaugural Social Enterprise Awards, we pay tribute to the thousands of like-minded Australian social enterprises and hopefully build greater awareness of the inspiring work that benefits an equally diverse range of communities in need." Gillies said.

The two main awards for Social Enterprise of the Year (small and medium/large) will each receive $10,000 in prize money.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR (small)

Connecting Up (Adelaide, SA) provides the Not for Profit sector with information resources, services and training to ensure affordable access to high quality technology.

Enterprise Partnerships (Epping, VIC) works with companies in banking and finance, essential services, property development, insurance, debt collection and with federal regulators to deliver bespoke training and consulting to help meet the needs of vulnerable consumers.

MadCap Cafe Enterprise (Dandenong, VIC) operates a café franchise that trains, employs and transitions people who suffer from a mental illness into the open employment market

Thankyou Water (Collingwood, VIC) sells bottled water in Australia to fund water projects in developing countries. Every bottle of Thankyou Water provides at least one month of safe drinking water to those in need. The organisation's mission is to empower the everyday Australian to change the world through a simple choice in their everyday life.

The Abbotsford Convent Foundation (Abbotsford, VIC) aims to create an exemplary arts, cultural and learning precinct, that encourages collaboration and social interaction at all levels.

The Social Studio (Collingwood, VIC) includes a fashion label, shop and café that provide a safe and supportive setting for employment, education and professional development for young people who have experienced being a refugee.

Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative (Nundah, QLD) manages two successful businesses: Espresso Train Cafe and NCEC Parks and Maintenance, which create meaningful work opportunities for people with an intellectual disability or mental health issues.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR (medium/large)

The Big Issue Australia provides employment opportunities for homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged individuals through the sale of the national monthly magazine.

Clean Force Property Services (Preston, VIC) specialises in supporting and training people with a disability (primarily mental illness) to access sustainable employment through cleaning contracts from businesses and community-based organisations in and around Melbourne.

Great Lakes Community Resources (Great Lakes, NSW) draws on government, industry and community to develop enterprises that enable disadvantaged people to develop social and economic livelihoods.

STREAT (Melbourne, VIC) operates three cafes and a coffee roasting company that provides homeless and disadvantaged youth aged 16-25 years with a supported pathway into the hospitality industry.

Waverley Industries (Notting Hill, VIC) is a Not for Profit organisation that provides employment opportunities for people with special needs, in particular intellectually disabled adults.

VATMI Group (Kew, VIC) employs more than 300 people with disabilities in active and progressive roles that build upon their personal capabilities through three commercial divisions of packing, recycling and art & design.

GAME Traffic & Contracting (Shepparton, VIC) provides an entry point into award wage work for job seekers with either no, or no recent work experience. All profits are directed towards GAME’s parent company Worktrainers, which runs a variety of specialised self funded employment programs designed for the most disadvantaged local jobseekers.

YOUTH-LED SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR

Bounce (Toowoomba, QLD) is a nook coffee shop that provides individuals who have been marginalized from the work force, the opportunity to receive training and life skills that rebuild their confidence and help secure employment.

The Engineers Without Borders Institute (North Melbourne, VIC) works to fight poverty and improve the quality of life in communities through innovative technology and education projects in Australia and Asia.

Thankyou Water (Collingwood, VIC) sells bottled water in Australia to fund water projects in developing countries. Every bottle of Thankyou Water provides at least one month of safe drinking water to those in need. The organisation's mission is to empower the everyday Australian to change the world through a simple choice in their everyday life.

OurSay.org (Melbourne, VIC) is passionate about harnessing the power of social media to revitalise critical participation in Australian democracy.

CareerTrackers (Surry Hills, NSW) works with indigenous university students and private sector companies to create career pathways through a structured internship program.

MadCap Cafe Enterprise (Dandenong, VIC) operates a café franchise that trains, employs and transitions people who suffer from a mental illness into the open employment market

STREAT (Melbourne, VIC) operates three cafes and a coffee roasting company that provide homeless and disadvantaged youth aged 16-25 years with a supported pathway into the hospitality industry, and long-term independence.

Who Gives A Crap (Melbourne, VIC) sells environmentally friendly toilet paper and use profits to build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world.

SOCIAL PROCUREMENT SE SUPPORTER OF THE YEAR

Great Lakes Council (Great Lakes, NSW) has supported the development of a range of Social Enterprises that have benefited the local community through their procurement practise.

Toowoomba Regional Council (Toowoomba, QLD) is committed to ensuring that employment opportunities are maximised for individuals in the local community that are from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

Transfield Services (Malvern, VIC) is a global provider of operations, maintenance and construction services that utilises Social Enterprises as part of their supply chain.

Social Traders was created from a collaboration between the Victorian Government and a private Foundation – each contributing matched funding to establish the organisation.

This investment enables Social Traders to support the development and growth of social enterprises at a national level to encourage greater collaboration across all levels of government, business and the community.

The awards will be presented at a cocktail party at the State Library of Victoria on Tuesday 28 May, 2013.